Damian grabbed his jacket from a coat stand in the corner of his office. Then they waited a few minutes for Serena to activate the answering machine and gather her stuff.
The winter blast that greeted them as they left the church was far colder than what Alex had become accustomed to in Texas. It was the one part of moving back to Minneapolis that Alex was not looking forward to. He thoroughly enjoyed the mild winters in Houston.
Alex ended up in the back seat of Rachel’s car with Serena. But there wasn’t much time for conversation with her. The car barely had time to warm up before they arrived at a deli not far from the church.
“Okay, who picked the restaurant?” Serena asked as Damian parked the car.
As far as Alex knew, no one had said anything about which restaurant they were going to. Damian had just driven to this one and parked the car.
“You have to ask?” Damian looked over his shoulder at Serena, a grin on his face.
Rachel reached over and gave him a light smack on the shoulder. “We could have gone somewhere else.”
“Not if I wanted a happy bride, we couldn’t.”
Alex felt like he’d missed something as the other three laughed. He had a lot of time to make up for when it came to his brother. Where he’d once been on the inside, he now stood looking on from the sidelines.
Damian slipped an arm around Rachel’s shoulders and led the way into the restaurant leaving Alex to fall into step beside Serena. She was a bit above average height with her head coming to just above his shoulder. Most women barely reached his shoulders.
“I take it this is a favorite restaurant for Rachel,” Alex commented as he held the door open for Serena.
“I don’t think any other places exist as far as she’s concerned. She’s got a thing for the sandwiches and soup here.”
A wave of fragrant warmth greeted them as they walked into the restaurant, and Alex’s stomach growled in response.
Serena grinned at him. “Hungry?”
“Apparently. If the smells are anything to go by, I have to say I’ll be joining Rachel in her passion for this place.”
They took off their coats and hung them up just inside the door. Serena followed Damian and Rachel to the counter. As he moved into line behind her, Alex noticed that unlike a lot of the women he came in contact with who favored tight fitting clothing, Serena wore a long straight skirt and a bulky sweater. He liked that she didn’t show more of herself. In his line of work he had come to appreciate women who chose not to dress in a revealing or provocative way.
Her black hair was held back in a simple pony tail at the nape of her neck, but Alex could see that it was wavy and thick.
Serena leaned closer to the counter to speak with the stout woman behind it. “I’ll have a half roast beef with tomato, mayo and pickles. And a bowl of the cream of potato bacon soup.”
“Is that what you’d recommend?” Alex asked, peering at the menu on the wall.
“It’s what I like. Really, you can’t go wrong with anything here.”
“I guess I’ll have the same,” Alex told the woman. “Only make mine a whole roast beef with onions, tomatoes, lettuce and mayo. And a bowl of the soup.”
“Onions?” Serena wrinkled her nose. “Keep your distance from me.”
“I wasn’t planning on getting close enough for them to bother you,” Alex replied with a wink.
A blush of pink slowly crept across her cheeks. “I…uh…well, didn’t mean it that way.”
Alex let his grin escape. “I know. I’m just teasing you.”
Serena glared at him, but Alex saw the twinkle in her chocolate brown eyes and didn’t take it too seriously.
“You should know better than to tease a lady.”
“I know, but seeing you blush was worth it.”
Serena wrinkled her nose at him before turning back to the counter. Marie slipped a tray towards her that held her sandwich and soup. Another tray appeared next to it with his order on it. Alex followed Serena to where the cash register sat.
“Lunch is on me,” Alex said, digging his wallet out of his pocket.
The other three protested, but Alex insisted and won the battle. It had been too long since he’d last been able to treat his family to a meal.
They followed Rachel to a booth along the wall. Damian slid in next to her leaving the other side for Alex and Serena. Alex let Serena slide in first so she was across from Rachel and then settled himself on the soft, vinyl covered bench seat.
“Would you like to say grace?” Damian asked him.
Alex nodded and they bowed their heads while he said a quick prayer.
For the first few minutes no one said anything as they began to eat. Alex quickly came to appreciate Rachel’s fondness for the restaurant.
“So is this where you’re having your reception?” Alex asked jokingly.
Damian and Rachel exchanged glances and burst out laughing.
“What did I say?” Alex asked Serena.
She grinned. “You may have been joking, but you’re closer to reality than you know.”
Alex looked back forth between Serena and the two seated across from him. “You’re really having your reception here?”
“Not exactly,” Rachel said when she finally stopped laughing. “But they are catering for us.”
“Well, that’s interesting. So what are you having?”
Rachel laid out the reception menu for them. Alex found it hard to believe that someone would settle for sandwiches and soup and said as much.
“I think I’d do the same thing,” Serena commented. “Simple and meaningful, that’s what I’d want for my wedding. And I think that’s what Rachel and Damian’s will be.”
Damian nodded. “No fancy-shmancy for us. Although I still have to wear a suit. I tried for blue jeans, but it was a no go.”
“So I’m not going to have to wear a tux?” Alex asked.
Rachel shook her head. “Nope. In fact you don’t even have to wear a suit. Damian is wearing one because he’s the groom, but you only have to wear a shirt and tie.”
“So that’s why you asked if I had a pair of black pants and a white shirt,” Alex said to Rachel.
She nodded. “I have the tie. It will match what the girls are wearing. So you’re all set.”
“Haven’t been to too many informal weddings lately,” Alex said. “And I’ve been to a lot of weddings.”
“After what we’ve gone through to get to this point, we decided that we wanted something simple because while the wedding is important, it’s what happens after that really needs our attention. No need to create undue amounts of stress even before the marriage has begun,” Damian explained.
“Well, I can’t wait,” Alex said.
They continued to talk about the wedding as they ate. Within an hour they had Serena back at the church, and they were on their way to his parents’ house. But try as he might, Alex couldn’t seem to keep Serena from his thoughts.
He hadn’t dated much in the past few years. A lot of it was because he hadn’t found a woman who had captivated him and held his attention. Serena was doing both, and all without even trying to. Or at least it seemed that way.
Mentally he compared her to the checklist he kept of what he wanted in any woman he dated with an eye to marriage. He didn’t believe in dating just for dating sake. To him, dating was the precursor to marriage, so if she didn’t meet his standards for a wife, it wouldn’t work to have her as a girlfriend.
So far, she appeared to have many of the qualities that were important to him in a wife. Only time would tell if she had them all. His heart skipped a beat at the thought that coming home to Minnesota might mean the wait was over and he might finally have a home and a family of his own.
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Worth the Wait!
~*~*~
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New Release
Home Is Where the Heart Is
Home to Collingsworth – Book 1
Ten years ago, Violet Collingsworth left the town founded by her family, eager to escape a domineering grandmother and a past filled with hurt. Finally able to pursue her own dreams, Violet has spent the last decade travelling and enjoying adventures in the outdoors she loves so much. But now her grandmother's death has brought her back to Collingsworth and to the conflicted familial relationships of her past. Settling down anywhere, let alone Collingsworth, was not part of her agenda, but a run-in with the town sheriff has her reconsidering.
Sheriff Dean Marconett had heard plenty about the Collingsworth sister who loved to travel, but he never imagined he'd be so drawn to her when they finally met. Will he be able to convince Violet to consider settling down in the town she fled from so long ago? Or will her adventuresome spirit and the hurts and fears of her past drive her away from a chance at love?
Home Away from Home
Home to Collingsworth - Book 2
Laurel’s story
Available April 2014
Single Titles
Faith, Hope & Love
After several years in captivity, missionary Quinn is finally freed,
but he returns to his wife a stranger.
Will they be able to find their love again?
Or will his lack of faith rob them of a future together?
Marrying Kate
She’s loved him for years so when he asks her to marry him for the sake of the children,
she says yes.
But will a man’s determination to keep his secrets threaten Kate’s dream of a marriage of love?
~ * ~ * ~
Those Karlsson Boys Trilogy
Waiting for Rachel
Though Rachel longs to accept Damian Karlsson’s romantic advances,
her secrets make her keep him at arm’s length.
But when her secrets are forced out in the open,
will Rachel discover that forgiveness and trust are worth the risk when it leads to love?
Worth the Wait
Alex Karlsson is sure that he’s found the woman he’s been waiting for.
Serena, however, isn’t so sure she fits the bill.
Will long held ideals and secrets doom their relationship before it even starts?
Or will they able to trust God when all hope seems lost?
The Waiting Heart
Jace Karlsson jumps at the chance to make amends for his past actions.
If it means realizing her dream, Mari is willing to work with the man who broke her heart.
But as emotions, past and present, are brought to the forefront,
she wonders if the price is too high.
~ * ~ * ~
Short Stories
A Little Bit of Love
A Collection of Christian Romance Short Stories
Matchmaker, Matchmaker
Jani successfully found matches for other people.
Would she ever find hers?
From Jingle Bells to Wedding Bells
Not wanting to just settle, Deidre makes a drastic decision.
But is it the right one?
Sudden Impulse
Tannis was Miss Predictable.
Maybe shaking it up a bit would get his attention.
Fountain of Love
Three years later Jennifer was back to ask forgiveness and get some closure.
Would long buried hope be satisfied?
~ * ~ * ~
Sweet Romances
Act of Love
Jack is home to do a favor for his sister’s community theatre.
But when he ends up with a role opposite his old girlfriend,
He begins to reevaluate his life and wonders if she’ll give him a second chance
at the love they once shared.
Waiting For Rachel: A Christian Romance (Those Karlsson Boys) Page 22
